Facilities committee outlines $64 million deferred-maintenance and possible bond scenarios

(Note: article body continues from truncated summary) The Midway ISD facilities committee briefed the board on capital needs, deferred maintenance and potential bond scenarios to address long-term capacity and repair costs.

Committee members presented a district-wide deferred-maintenance estimate of roughly $24 million to address current delinquent items and an additional projected $40 million of needs over five years, creating an illustrative $64 million total to bring facilities current and keep them maintained through 2031. The presentation included campus-level breakdowns showing older buildings carry higher facility condition indices (FCIs); Spiegelville Elementary was flagged as having one of the highest FCIs and a sizeable deferred-maintenance price tag.

The committee also reviewed programmatic capital needs: technology infrastructure (including data-center gear and networking), transportation (route buses with estimated needs of about $2.7 million for special-education routes and roughly $3 million for general-route buses), athletics and fine-arts facility upgrades and equipment. Committee staff noted items such as gym capacity limitations at the high school that affect multiple programs and proposed priorities for fine-arts instruments, equipment and interior building work.

Committee members discussed growth and attendance-zone options. Two scenarios considered: (1) construct a new 750-student elementary near River Valley to replace Spiegleville Elementary and address growth tied to water/wastewater infrastructure improvements in that area, and (2) add capacity onto several existing elementary campuses. The new-school scenario was estimated by administrators in the presentation at about $80 million to $85 million for a 750-student elementary in the current cost environment; Park Hill replacement and similar projects were cited in the $30 million to $40 million range. Administrators noted cost estimates include conservative escalation assumptions for future construction.

The committee emphasized trade-offs between using I&S (bond) funds for capital needs and M&O funds for operating costs and described how projects funded by bonds can reduce long-term operating costs through improved energy efficiency (LED lighting, HVAC, etc.). They urged continued prioritization and a staged process: refine needs, continue community engagement, and prepare scenarios for board consideration; several trustees asked for additional detail and prioritization before any bond recommendation.

Administrators said estimates are preliminary, that E-Rate or other offsets could reduce technology project costs by about $1 million pending E-Rate results, and that final project scopes and costs would be set before any public bond measure. The facilities committee intends further meetings to refine options and gather more community input before the board considers a bond or another funding approach.